Euchre

Euchre, card game generally played by four persons with a pack of 32 cards, consisting of sevens through the aces. The cards are ranked from the ace downward, except for the jacks, known as bowers. The jack of trump, or right bower, is the best trump and highest card; the jack of the same color as trump, the left bower, is the next best card and is played as a trump.

Partners and the first deal are decided by cutting the cards, and five cards are dealt to each player, three on the first round and two on the second. After the deal, the card on the top of the deck is turned faceup to indicate the trump suit. Starting with the eldest hand (the player at the left of the dealer), each player in turn has the option of accepting or passing the trump suit. Opponents of the dealer may order up the turned-up card; the partner of the dealer accepts by saying he or she assists; and the dealer signifies acceptance by placing a card from his or her hand facedown underneath the pack. No matter who makes trump, the dealer discards in exchange for the turned-up card. If all players pass the trump, the dealer turns it down, and each player in turn, beginning with the eldest hand, may make the suit, that is, call another suit trump, or may pass again. If all players pass twice, the hand is abandoned.

A player making the trump may play alone, in other words, without the aid of cards held by his or her partner, which are turned facedown at the time the lone player makes trump and declares alone. Play begins as soon as one player has accepted trump; the eldest hand leads, the others following suit if possible. Tricks are taken by the highest card in a suit or by the highest trump. The object of the game is for the side making trump to win three tricks, scoring 1 point, or five tricks (that is, a march) for 2 points; if played alone, however, the march scores 4 points. For failing to take three tricks, the partnership making trump is said to be “euchred,” and the opponents score 2 points. Game is 5 points or, by agreement, 7 to 10 points.

Among other forms of euchre are two- and three-handed games, both of which are played in essentially the same manner as the four-handed type. In three-handed, or cutthroat, euchre, however, the maker of trump plays against the other players. In two-handed euchre, 24 cards are used, those from deuce through eight being excluded. All hands are played alone, but a march counts only 2 points.